Calibrachoa plant named ‘BBCAL82402’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘BBCAL82402’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers with dark greyed purple-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBCAL82402’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING PRIORDISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

This application claims priority to a Canadian Plant Breeders' Rightsapplication filed on May 17, 2019, application number 19-9872. Therehave been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to theeffective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one ofordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed PlantBreeder's Rights documents.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘BBCAL82402’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform, freely-branching andfreely-flowering Calibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flowercolors and patterns and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. on Aug. 27, 2015 of Calibrachoa sp.‘Duehulor’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,390, as the female, orseed, parent with Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL08501’, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 24,503, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoaplant was discovered and first selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 17, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. sinceMay 17, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BBCAL82402’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BBCAL82402’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoaplant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually        trailing plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Red purple-colored flowers with dark greyed purple-colored        centers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Duehulor’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as compact as plants of        ‘Duehulor’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Duehulor’ differ in flower        color as flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa are red purple        in color with dark greyed purple-colored centers whereas flowers        of plants of ‘Duehulor’ are orange in color with dark        purple-colored centers.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have good garden performance        whereas plants of ‘Duehulor’ have poor garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘USCAL08501’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not        as upright as plants of ‘USCAL08501’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCAL08501’ differ in        flower color as flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa are red        purple in color with dark greyed purple-colored centers whereas        flowers of plants of ‘USCAL08501’ are dark red in color with        dark purple-colored centers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI11’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,968. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘USCALI11’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not        as upright as plants of ‘USCALI11’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI11’ differ in flower        color as flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa are red purple        in color with dark greyed purple-colored centers whereas flowers        of plants of ‘USCALI11’ are light red purple in color.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI51’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,874. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘USCALI51’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not        as upright as plants of ‘USCALI51’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI51’ differ in flower        color as flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa are red purple        in color with dark greyed purple-colored centers whereas flowers        of plants of ‘USCALI11’ are violet in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Calibrachoa plant. At the top of the photographicsheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘BBCAL82402’ grown in a container and

at the bottom of the photographic sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘BBCAL82402’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 15.25-cmcontainers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in St. Thomas, Ontario,Canada and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 27° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants werepinched three weeks after planting and were ten weeks from plantingrooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘BBCAL82402’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duehulor’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,390.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL08501’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,503.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to ten days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four to five            weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About five to six            weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; vigorous growth            habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with            about four primary lateral branches each with about 13            secondary branches developing per plant; dense and bushy            appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 13.6 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 31.7 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Primary branches.—Length: About 22 cm. Diameter: About            2.5 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm.        -   Secondary branches.—Length: About 13.2 cm. Diameter: About            1.4 mm. Internode length: About 6 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong, flexible and sturdy.        -   Aspect.—Upright to semi-upright to horizontal and eventually            trailing.        -   Texture and luster.—Densely pubescent; matte.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 145A.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 145A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite; leaves simple.        -   Length.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 7 mm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately            pubescence; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,            close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 145A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong, flexible. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; matte. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with            typically about 580 flowers and flower buds developing per            plant at one time; flowers face upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa            begin flowering about six to eight weeks after planting;            plants flower continuously from the spring though the summer            until frost.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Moderately            pubescence; matte. Color: Close to N77B.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 2.2 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 9 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 9 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a            flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About            1.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:            Spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin: Entire;            slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster,            lower surface: Sparsely pubescent; matte. Throat texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Tube texture and            luster: Sparsely pubescent; matte. Color: Petal lobe, when            opening, upper surface: Close to N57A; towards the throat,            close to 187A and center, close to 202A. Petal lobe, when            opening, lower surface: Close to 59D. Petal lobe, fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 58C; towards the throat,            close to 53A and center, close to 187A; midvein, close to            N77A and lateral venation, close to 50B; with development,            color becoming closer to 50C and towards the throat, close            to 53A and center, close to 202A. Petal lobe, fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 58D; midvein, close to 200A and            lateral venation, close to N77A; color becoming closer to            65A with development. Throat: Close to 12A to 12B; venation,            close to N200A. Tube: Close to 10A; venation, close to N77A.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single            whorl; sepals flaring outwardly and reflexing towards the            apex. Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm. Sepal            length: About 1.2 cm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape:            Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture and luster, upper surface: Sparsely to moderately            pubescent; matte. Sepal texture and luster, lower surface:            Moderately pubescent; matte. Sepal color, upper surface:            Close to 137A. Sepal color, lower surface: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.9 mm.            Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately            strong, wiry and flexible. Texture and luster: Moderately            pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A; at the attachment to            the calyx, close to N77B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.            Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color: Close to 154C.            Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal.            Anther color: Close to 11A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 11D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.            Pistil length: About 7 mm. Style length: About 6.2 mm. Style            color: Close to 145B. Stigma diameter: About 0.8 mm. Stigma            shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary            color: Close to 145B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Calibrachoa plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘BBCAL82402’ as illustrated and described.